AUGUSTA, Maine — State officials announced on Monday the appointment of 10 people to the newly created Maine Lobster Marketing Collaborative Board.

The board, established by the Legislature, was formed in October and is charged with marketing and promoting Maine lobster. It is the first step in a five-year, multimillion-dollar investment the industry has committed to marketing Maine lobster.

The panel, which needs one more appointee, is a cross-section of state officials, fishermen, and others with ties to the lobster industry or other business expertise.

The board board is, by law, made up of 11 members, including people representing lobster fisherman, dealers and processors as well as others with expertise in marketing.

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The appointments were announced by Department of Marine Resources Commissioner Patrick Keliher, who led the selection process. Keliher, who also will serve on the panel, is continuing to review nominees for the 11th seat on the board.

“We sought out a board of leaders, innovators, marketing experts, harvesters, processors, dealers, small-business owners and people who are eager to re-energize the Maine lobster brand,” Keliher said in a news release issued by the agency. “I am confident that they will be successful in setting an effective marketing course for the future and creating a new high level of excitement and demand for Maine lobster.”

In addition to Kelher, the following people were named to the Maine Lobster Marketing Collaborative Board:

“Maine lobster is an iconic American product that has a long history of feeding seafood lovers around the world while fueling Maine’s coastal economy,” said Gov. Paul LePage.

“We are confident that our industry’s cooperative marketing investment and direct involvement on the new MLMC board from lobstermen, dealers and processors will help drive up profitable demand for branded Maine lobster and further strengthen the overall Maine economy,” said LePage.